Using Technology in a Classroom

Colby classrooms employ various types of technology to allow the instructor to display content to students in the room.  The steps in this article describe how to use the standard, most common classroom configuration.  Some features may look different depending on the specific classroom.

1. Locate the control touch panel in the room.  This is often a 5" or 7" display located near the instructor station.  It will be either on a desk or mounted to the wall.
   
    
2. Click on the power button in the center of the screen to initiate the system.
   
    
3. After the system powers up, you are presented with the main control screen.
   
    
4. Select the source of your content using the buttons located across the top.  This can include Mac (the classroom computer), VGA (older VGA video input), HDMI (newer HDMI video input for external device), Blu-Ray (DVD/Blu-Ray player, if equipped), or Solstice (wireless screen sharing).
5. The screen has other notable buttons:
   • Video Mute will temporarily make the projection screen turn black.
   • Mic Mute will turn off the instructor's microphone, if one is in use.
   • Audio Mute will disable any sound coming from the content source.
   • Volume will adjust the loudness of the content.
6. Many rooms feature a hardware interface like the one in this image.
   
   • Use VGA for older laptops with VGA outputs.
   • Use HDMI for most laptops or tablets.  An adapter may be required, which can often be found in the drawer of the equipment rack.  If one is not available, please contact the Support Center for assistance.
   • External Microphone is to connect wireless Hotec microphones for voice reinforcement when necessary.
   • USB ports allow for peripheral devices, such as a thumb drive, to connect to the classroom computer.
   • Mac Power turns on the classroom computer if it is not already on.
   • DVD/Blu-Ray Player is where you would insert an optical disc for playback.
7. When finished in the classroom, please press System Off > Yes to shut down the classroom technology.